Renovating

Getting a facelift

This basement by Just Basements won the 2012 Housing Design Awards category of renovations/additions basement.

Photograph by: Steve Cain
, The Ottawa Citizen

Paint is dandy to put a clean face on a tired room, but when the face needs major work it's time to put down the brushes and call in pros for the fix. Some people are shocked at the cost and are then taken in by the hundreds of underground renovators who have a nice truck, nice business card and use a cellphone as their office, warns Emile Salem, owner of Ottawa Home Improvements and chair of the Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Renovators' Council.

"Seniors seem to be most at risk," says the veteran renovator. "Underground renovators charge half the price of registered renovators and there are about 200 or 300 of them that change their name every year. They come and go and the homeowner is left with the problems."

Instead, homeowners should look for reputable renovators, professionals who respect the Renovators' Council seal of approval - the RenoMark - says Salem, who watched colleagues collect hefty glass trophies for outstanding renovations at the Housing Design Awards held earlier this month.

Renos ranged from an award-winning front porch on a red brick home in the west end by OakWood for under $60,000 to more than $500,000 for a new garage, spa and glass link to the main house in Rockcliffe Park by star architect Barry Hobin and Terra Nova's John Henry.

"There is no average renovation cost or job," says Salem. "It's like comparing the cost of a Neon or a Cadillac. There is a huge range in the industry."

You can expect to pay $10,000 to $30,000 for a bathroom renovation or a small kitchen reno, while a new basement in an older home will range from $20,000 to $70,000. These are the most popular nips and tucks for older homes and folks who want to stay in their neighbourhood, but hanker after fresh living spaces, says Salem. Prices all depend on the finishings and the extent of work, says Salem, who adds an increasing number of people want to stay in their homes and not move.

They also want to take down walls and open up spaces, he says.

According to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. survey, the average homeowner spends $12,800 to fix up their home, with 80 per cent dipping into their savings to pay the bills.

Elaine Condos and Ian Macredie did more than dip into their savings after hiring architect Linda Chapman last year to make over their charming 1930s home near the Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital, adding an ultra-modern two-storey back addition and a deep blue kitchen. The mortgage-free couple went to the bank for financing, but were still smiling after Chapman topped nine other contenders at the design awards, winning honours for renos ranging between $200,000 and $349,999 for the project.

"We are not going to move," Macredie said with a quirky smile after the awards ceremony. "No way."

Moving down the economic scale, it was a leaky roof in their 20-yearold row house that prompted a Centretown couple to call on Steve Barkhouse and Amsted to come and investigate. "One thing led to another. We fixed the leak, added new windows and designed a new front entrance," says Barkhouse, shortly after coming third in the hotly contested category for renos ranging between $60,000 and $99,999.

"The couple wanted to get rid of the leak and wanted more pop for the streetscape," says the respected renovator. "There is home pride and owners want to distinguish their homes. They want to stand out and be a little different on the street."

A west-end Ottawa couple also got an extra helping of street appeal and OakWood Renovation Experts left the awards gala with honours for a peaked porch supported by hefty white pillars in the reno category under $60,000. OakWood had already gutted and renovated the kitchen, yet the crumbling front porch needed work.

"It was a bit dreary," says Patricia Liptak-Satov. "Guests are now protected against the elements and the house has an upscale street presence."

A young professional couple got an open, revitalized house without leaving their Riverside South neighbourhood when Roy Nandram, owner of RND Construction took down walls and ripped out a curving oak staircase.

"The staircase was blocking everything. There was lots of wasted space," says Nandram, who swept the design awards, including top spot for renovating the 13-year-old, two-storey for under $99,999. "The owner wanted an open concept."

Nandram designed a floating glass staircase and now the owners have clear views from kitchen to reorganized living room and dining room. "The house has a modern, open feel inside and you would never know it from the street."

It's the ultimate private facelift, designed for families inside the house, not the street.

WHAT THEY GOT IN ELMVALE ACRES

Location: 2230 Bingham St.

Features: Renovated bungalow with four bedrooms (two up, two down), a den and a family room on 50-foot lot

Asking price: $339,000

Selling price: $337,000

Days on market: 16

Word from the sales rep: "This was a renovated bungalow in an affordable price range, within the greenbelt and close to amenities," says Brent McElheran, an agent with Royal LePage Team Realty.

What's good about the 'hood: It's central, close to Canterbury High School and a short jaunt to downtown.

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